The Thirsty Soul Is Open With All-Day Brunch on West Passyunk
The church-themed bar debuts today in Newbold with Southern comfort food and cocktails with flair.
Photo courtesy of the Thirsty Soul
The Thirsty Soul, a church-themed bar serving all-day Southern comfort brunch and cocktails with flair, opens today at the corner of 16th and West Passyunk in Newbold.
The space at 1551 West Passyunk Avenue features a 50-seat bar area with a church theme. The lights salvaged from a Lancaster County church and a colorful, backlit stained glass bar. A fully functional confessional booth leads to a speakeasy-themed additional space with a New Orleans bordello vibe that will opened on busy nights and for live music and special events.
General manager Billy Hines is returning to Philly after spending the past decade-plus working in Las Vegas and Orlando, designing cocktails for spots like the House of Blues.
At the Thirsty Soul, he’s pouring his take on classic cocktails like the Old Fashioned and Singapore Sling on the “Old Testament” menu; the “New Testament” section includes signature creations like the Perk-A-Tory, a restorative blend of La Colombe coffee and coconut water spiked with spiced rum, and the Saint, maple-infused bourbon combined with Aperol, Domaine de Canton, pear puree, and bitter lemon soda.
There are also five “Offerings” on the menu — outsized drinks that are served in 55-ounce punch bowls. The Blessing is made with mint-infused vodka, white wine, watermelon puree, agave, and lemon lime soda, and the Jezebel combines vodka infused with blueberry and basil plus agave and sour.
Chef Barbara Romeo, formerly of Grubhouse in South Philly, designed the food: think chicken and waffles, shrimp and grits, and New Orleans-inspired dishes like jambalaya-topped macaroni and cheese and eggs Benedict with pulled pork. The menu also includes Yo’boys — Romeo’s Philly-inspired take on the po’boy sandwich — featuring a choice of fried shrimp, catfish, chicken, green tomatoes, or cauliflower.
The Thirsty Soul will serve brunch from 11 a.m. until 1 a.m. seven days a week, with the bar open until 2 a.m. every night.
